Message in a (Repurposed) Bottle

Ever since my county stopped recycling glass, I’ve been trying to come up with fresh ways to repurpose the glass bottles I end up with. Now that summer is on the horizon, my head is already in the sand- beach sand, that is. So, this time around, I decided to recreate the look of a message in a bottle…using glass wine and liquor bottles that are no longer allowed in our recycling bin.

No glass recycling in Greenville County, South Carolina!

I know, I know- no glass recycling is the absolute pits! BUT- I think you’re really going to like how this project turns out, and it’s insanely easy to make. This post contains affiliate links for your crafting convenience.

To get started on my idea, I first needed to remove all the labels/foil from my bottles. My method involves soaking the bottles in a bucket of hot water for a while- and some labels melt right off with this alone. For those that leave sticky residue, I use a favorite cleaner of mine to help take it all off. But one of my bottles must have had a really weird shape for air flow because even after 4 days, it hadn’t dried out inside! So, I reached into my scientist background and used a laboratory desiccant (don’t worry, it’s non-toxic) which dried it out in a few moments.

My scientific secret ingredient…

Because I was recreating the look of a message in a bottle, I needed to “age” my bottles ever so slightly, as if they had tumbled along the ocean floor for oh-so-many years. I used a colorless sea glass spray, but instead of spraying close and heavy for an opaque finish, I sprayed lightly from further away.

To get that tumbled glass look…

And it worked brilliantly! The bottles had exactly the look I was going for.

I simply removed a page and folded/tore along each edge for a natural look. Then, I carefully rolled the page around a pen, applying a glue stick along the last inch or so to secure it. Once it had dried/set, I wrapped a touch of hemp cord around the center as insurance (and to add to the natural look). There- a message for my message in a bottle!

The message part of Message in a Bottle…

Romantic and beachy…

To finish everything off, I nabbed corks from my never-ending stash, and loosely/randomly wrapped more hemp cord around them.

Finishing touches…

And voila! Perfect message in a bottle décor that looks beachy and coastal and romantic…and well lovely. An easy and fun way to bring the shoreline indoors, no matter where you live! And wouldn’t these be wonderfully easy decor for a beach wedding this summer?

LOVE THESE!!!

Aren’t they great? I love, seriously LOVE, how they look- especially as a cluster, which I’ll place around the house this summer. And make sure you check out all my beach décor projects for even more inspiration before you click away!

Craft on!

S

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Comments

Hi, Lucy, are you asking how to use it? You pour a few granules (amount depends on how much moisture you’re ridding, so I used probably a few dozen granules poured through a funnel into my bottle) and shook them around in the bottle. The blue granules turn purple as they absorb moisture- then I just dumped the granules out.

Love it, as usual. Once upon a time I bought a bag of play sand at Wal-Mart as it was easier than bringing home beach sand (in my shoes ALWAYS happens!). Think I used the end of it on icy stairs! Anyway, I love adding sea shells, too. As a kid, I always wanted to find a pearl in a clam shell (They grow in oysters!) so I have been known to glue a pearl bead into a shell to add interest. Also loved your post with the aqua Ball jars–what a great combo for a centerpiece. I made your candleholders with green sea glass paint, wrapped with jute and sea charms. I can imagine how well they would all go together the length of a table or a mantle. Awesome!

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About Me

Living a firsthand life using secondhand things.

Welcome to Sadie Seasongoods- my blog dedicated to approachable repurposing and upcycling projects using vintage treasures and thrifted finds! I'm Sarah, the gal behind the projects and inspiration you'll find here- and I'm so very pleased to meet you. I feel a fundamental need to repurpose and upcycle the broken, the neglected, and the tossed- and to avoid buying new whenever possible. I hope to encourage others to live a more creative, less disposable life...and to "think outside the box [store]"! Working with my husband in our little home to share my ideas with you brings me more joy than I deserve, and I hope you'll sit a spell and page through my creations. I'd love to hear from you; connect with me through social media (buttons above my photo) or please drop me a note at [email protected] .